DIHAD 2015 “Opportunity, Mobility, and Sustainability”

Our recently formed book club has chosen “The Blue Sweater” by Jacqueline Novogratz as our first read. She begins her novel by reminiscing that once upon a time, she had hoped that her nudging of the world with good intentions and philanthropic efforts would make a difference, though she quickly realized nudging wasn’t enough. The gap between the rich and the poor continues to increase drastically, dangerously. For the first time since WWII, the number of people forcibly displaced from their homes exceeds 50 million; hence the desperate need for humanitarian responses.  Humanitarian actors continually respond to such suffering from perpetual crises; yet we cannot allow this to become “the norm”.  I might argue that the solution is assistance and relief, while you might suggest opportunities for development as the essential component.  Yet realistically, the most sustainable response is humanitarianism; the motivation behind what we do, based upon our own values and ethics.

Syria, Iraq, Central African Republic, and South Sudan are four of the United Nation’s highest emergency level crises that arose simultaneously.  Immediately, a barrage of negative thoughts comes to mind:  blockades and occupation, food insecurity, malnutrition and poverty, armed conflict, breaches of international humanitarian law, targeting of aid workers, inconsistent education, and human trafficking.  These conflicts and challenges require dignified, coordinated, and sustainable humanitarian responses, which can only arise by the actors working collectively beyond borders, beyond cultures.  And then one day, when those four countries are mentioned, perhaps a positive response would come to mind instead.

As we walk around the DIHAD exhibition area, we are overwhelmed by the positives: portable solar power solutions, safe drinking water systems, emergency food and shelters, medical and rescue equipment, opportunities for formal education and vocational training, armored transport vehicles, emergency responders, microfinance opportunities, disaster management, female empowerment, migration management, mosquito nets, fleece blankets, and healing the wounds of war. The solutions exist, but must be put into action. The need to protect refugees, resolve refugee problems, and help find durable solutions to allow them to rebuild their lives in dignity and peace must be prioritized.  There is no other option.